The good news is, if you have some time, you can research your problem online. You can actually figure out what’s wrong with you.

Consider me. Not a heck of a lot wrong me. Almost nothing at all. Thirty years ago I developed a goiter and I went to an endocrinologist and he put me on100 mcg of Levothyroxine.

Six years ago my endocrinologist died and I started seeing a primary doc, not an endochronolist. But I thought, what the heck, I’ve been on the same dosage for a very long time. Surely a primary doc can handle me. WRONG.

In the fourth year of seeing the primary doc I started having leg cramps, foot cramps. If i walked for 10 minutes I had to stop and rest. After a vascular study my primary told me I would eventually be on drugs and would probably have to have surgery to enlarge my ankle veins. He said I had the beginning of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). I did not take this well. I did not believe him. All my tests showed that my blood was flowing well in all parts of my body. So what was happening here?

My cholorestal is perfect. My blood pressure is perfect.

I asked for the last two years of my blood tests. My alternative doc, Mark Mincola (Cohasset, MA) said: “You don’t have PAD, but your thyroid numbers are askew. Add fish oil to your diet, add Selenium.” I did, and the leg cramps went away, although the foot cramps were still there, as ghosts.

My new, young doc at Harbor Medical meets with me. He says: “Are you aware that you have been over-medicated with Levothyroxine for over 5 years? What are your symptoms?”

After a few days of being on 25 percent less of Levothyroxine I reported that my foot cramps disappeared completely. I wrote him a note,

A few weeks later I saw my optometrist who I had not seen for some time. She told me I had a cataract in my right eye. I could easily have a plastic lens implanted, she said.

I Googled what happens when you are over-medicated with Levothyroxine? People have reported that they have had muscle camps in their calves and their feet. Females (78.66 percent) being overdosed on Levothyroxine sodium report cataract.

I am furious with myself. I live in the age of Google. I don’t have to go to medical libraries to research any of this. It’s all ON LINE!

I should have had copies of my blood tests all along and I should have questioned my docs about the flags. I didn’t. I trusted them.

The leg cramps, the cataract – all because a doc I trusted didn’t notice and I wasn’t paying attention. I trusted someone else to handle it.

No more mister nice guy.

I am now on a dosage of Levothyroxine that is right for me. Before I rush to eye surgery for a plastic lens, I am going to try to solve it myself. I will begin dealing with my cataract in a few days. I am going to give the Can-C eye drops a try – six or seven weeks.

I will keep you in touch with what’s happening, and there is more medical news to come.

Father time is undefeated, and by all accounts will remain so forever. The calendar catches up to all of us, regardless of what we do in an attempt to forestall the inevitable.

An athlete’s career ends sooner than it does for those of us in other professions. An accountant or a banker can ply their trade for decades. But the average length of an NFL career is little more than three years. That’s why it surprised many observers when five NFL players in their prime retired over the course of a two week period in early March. Why would they retire “early” and leave so much money – in some cases, tens of millions of dollars – on the table?

The reasons for the retirements varied. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, the only player north of 30, said he was concerned about his long term health. Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker, a former first round pick, never lived up to expectations and decided to move on. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds elected to devote time to his religion, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew experienced a drop in production and may have seen the handwriting on the wall.

Willis’ teammate, 24-year old rookie linebacker Chris Borland, tied his retirement directly to concern for potential concussions and head injuries. In making the announcement Borland said, “I’m concerned that if you wait till you have symptoms, it’s too late. … There are a lot of unknowns. I can’t claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long, healthy life, and I don’t want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise.”

Bravo to Borland. At least he’s walking away from the sport with – apparently – his health. The same can’t be said for thousands of former NFL players who are a shell of their former selves, unable to walk, talk or function normally after decades playing America’s most popular and most violent sport. No one knows exactly when the physical deterioration first begins but medical science has traced the onset of head injuries in some cases all the way back to Pop Warner football.

For every Chris Borland, there are countless Wes Welkers. Welker has had a prolific NFL career as a slot receiver for four teams. By his own admission, Welker has suffered an estimated dozen concussions over the course of his career. Many more may have gone undiagnosed as Welker adheres to the old time stereotype that as long as a player can remain upright, he should continue playing for his teammates. But repeated concussions, especially the violent type that Welker has most often experienced, are known to lead to early and permanent brain damage.

Should Welker want examples, he need only look at what happened to former teammate Junior Seau. Seau took his own life two years after retiring from the NFL due to the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of chronic brain damage. Like Seau, legions of former players are suffering – and many others are doomed to suffer from – CTE.

Welker is currently a free agent in search of his fifth team. Common sense says he should retire and hope that he can function long enough to enjoy the millions he has earned serving as a human pinball in the NFL. For many players like Welker, that’s easier said than done. Fans have an obsession with football. We revel in its violence even though we know from research, lawsuits and observation the toll it takes on the human body. Most players have a similar obsession with the sport. They have an irresistible urge to play the game they love, one that compensates them far better than anything they can do beyond football.

Perhaps Welker has asked himself the same question Borland posited: “What kind of life do I want to have after my football career is over?” If so, it’s clear the two players answered the question differently. That’s human nature. It’s why some players, like Welker, hang on until they’re told to turn in their uniform. And others, like Borland, choose to live a normal life long after the cheering ends.

In either case, the end of their football career is inevitable. The only unknown is the quality of life that follows.

Advisory chair Pescatore, Selectman incumbent Martha Gjesteby, and School committeeman Paul Schubert have all filed their nomination papers. The Selectmen race will be the only contested race on the ballot this year.

In related election news, there will be two openings on the Planning Board, but only write-in candidates will be able o run for those seats.

Stuart Ivimey, Planning Board chair, decided to not run for re-election. Planner Charles Samuelson decided to resign his seat earlier this week. Both men made their decisions too late for anyone to take out papers. There will be one five-year term and a three-year term.

A lovely and now lonely building with a lien and unexplained legal and other financial problems sits at the edge of the Town Swim Center at 91 Sohier Street.

Although it was built by the Cohasset Social Service League (CSS) for Cohasset Seniors, it appears seniors may not be using the building any time in the near future.

When the project was first contemplated in 2011, the Town was told the CSS would at some point turn the building over to the Town for $1 and a handshake. In recent months CSS told the Town it could no longer “gift” the building to the Town, but said the Town could buy the building. To date the CSS has not presented the Town with any proposal for an outright gift, or any lease or purchase options for less than $35,000.

State procurement laws require that any transaction of more than $35,000 requires the Town to proceed by statue, with requests for RFPs. The 30B statue would not apply if the amount to lease or purchase were less than $35,000. Example: The town may lease a $1M building for one year lease of $34,000. A two-year lease for $18,000 a year, for a cumulative value of $36,000, requires strict adherence to the rules above.

Were the Town to purchase 91 Sohier Street at some point, Town Counsel stated that “any building acquired as a purchase needed to be completed, without open construction contracts, unfinished work, or outstanding liens, and additionally provide the Town the maximum flexibility to operate whatever programs, services and other municipal operations onsite it deemed necessary and appropriate.”

In a very brief presentation at tonight’s meeting, Town Manager Chris Senior noted that several years ago CSS decided to leave the public/private partnership with the Town and pursue an independently built Senior Center at 91 Sohier Street. And therein all the problems lie.

The November 17,2014 Special Town Meeting allocated funds for a due diligence review of 91 Sohier Street that would analyze the ways and means of the Town acquiring, leasing or occupying the privately-owned building. A physical review of the structure was also analyzed. (This is on the Town website).

Accordingly, Senior said he is putting out two RFPs for a Senior Center. The CSS and others are invited to bid on the RFPs. Should the Town decide to purchase any property for Cohasset seniors, it would need a large appropriation that would be funded, presumably, by borrowing at a town meeting, and then it would need a debt exclusion Prop 2 1/2 override at the ballot box.

One RFP will ask for bids for the Town to lease a Senior Center space. The second RFP will ask for proposals for the Town to buy a Senior Center. Both RFPs will have language that stipulates the space purchased or leased must be able to be used for other municipal purposes. The building at 91 Sohier Street cannot be used for other than seniors because of the language of the trust fund money that was used to build it. Responses to the RFS are due on or before April 24 with a review and recommendation to be made as soon thereafter as possible.

Town Meeting will be asked to approve both RFPs in order that the Town can move forward to relocate its seniors. Currently, Cohasset Elder Affairs leases rooms at the Cohasset Community Center on a monthly basis.

There were no persons present from the Cohasset Social Service League. Tana Carlson, vice chairman of Cohasset Elder Affairs, was present. This is not a time of celebration for the Cohasset Social Service League or for the Town of Cohasset.

On March 19 I called Steve Unsworth of Badge Quest, the company hired to assist Town Manager Chris Senior in hiring a Police Chief, with some questions.

On March 19th Acting Police Chief Bill Quigley told the Community Liaison Committee that he was one of five finalists for the Cohasset job. The Community Liaison Committee is listed under the police department, on their website, but its members are appointed by Selectmen.

I asked Unsworth at what point the five candidates’ names become public.

Unsworth said that normally the Town Manager reveals his choice at the time he brings his candidate before the board of selectmen. The other candidates are not normally “known” unless they announce themselves.

Candidates will undoubtedly meet one another today (Saturday, March 21) when they spend a full day being assessed by Badge Quest assessors. At that point individual candidates will know their competitors and ultimately some of that the news will sift down to the public.

After assessments are made, Senior will interview all five candidates and then make his selection to put before Selectmen.

I asked Unsworth if Cohasset’s top five candidates were asked to not divulge that they were in the top five. He said no. I found that odd, particularly when this search is supposed to be double-blind, and candidates are not supposed to know who are in the top five.

Quigley has broken no laws, according to Unsworth and Senior. Senior said he is pleased with the search and that the process has been impartial and is on-track.

If there is any upset here, it is the questions that we now have regarding Cohasset’s Community Liaison Committee, a very ‘un-sunshiny’ committee that has surfaced during sunshine week, although it’s been around since at least 2010.

Town officials call it an ad hoc committee, but there is no ad hoc anything in the Open Meeting Law.

According to the Open Meeting Law, the Community Liaison Committee is a public board that does not post its meetings and should.

We are told from its description on the police website that the committee meets regularly with its membership and the police chief to improve communication between residents and the police department.

In its description of service it says the following:

“Residents often time (sic) don’t feel comfortable contacting their local police agency to complain, criticize or simply ask questions.”

It then names its members and gives citizens their five e-mail addresses.

Three of the members have police department email addresses (that would not be comforting to citizens who wish to make their complaints private, not public). The other two have very public townofcohasset.org addresses.

It would be difficult for anyone to find this committee as it does not post its meetings. If the committee takes minutes, they are not public. If one did not have a computer there would be no way for anyone to know this committee existed.

The public should have the right to know what issues are being discussed by this committee, if the public can attend meetings, etc., and how does the committee rate itself on its ability to communicate with citizens. What issues has it contemplated?

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On Saturday, March 14th at 7:30 p.m., The Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Rockland features The Lonely Heartstring Band. Born as a wedding band, they were hired to play only Beatles repertoire on traditional bluegrass instruments. It didn’t take long for them to start exploring other sounds and composing original music. The result is a sound that combines instrumental virtuosity, three-part harmonies, and a deep understanding of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian music. They have played at all the major bluegrass festivals including the Thomas Point Beach (ME) and Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festivals (NH), Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival (NH), the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival (MA) and the Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival (NC). Check them out at www.thelonelyheartstringband.com. Between sets by the band, there will be an open mike. The address is 45 Webster Street, Rockland. Tickets are $8 at the door; Children under 12 are free. For more information, visit the website or Facebook page: www.thebluemooncoffeehouse.com.

Employer costs for employee compensation in private industry among the four regions of the country ranged from $28.81 per hour in the South to $38.14 in the Northeast during December 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In the other two regions, hourly employer costs for employee compensation stood at $28.85 in the Midwest and $32.08 in the West. (See chart 1.) In addition to regional estimates, employer costs for nine smaller geographic divisions are also available. Within divisions, total compensation costs ranged from $24.88 per hour in the East South Central division to $38.51 in the Middle Atlantic division. (See table 1.) Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) are based on the National Compensation Survey, which measures employer costs for wages, salaries, and employee benefits. (Geographic definitions of the regions and divisions follow in the Technical Note.)

In the Northeast, hourly total compensation costs were comprised of the following: wages and salaries ($25.42) made up 66.6 percent, while total benefits ($12.72) accounted for the remaining 33.4 percent. Insurance costs, which include life, health, and short- and long-term disability, averaged $3.15 per hour worked and 8.3 percent of all compensation costs. Legally required benefits, which include Social Security and Medicare, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance, averaged $2.94 per hour and represented 7.7 percent of total compensation costs. Paid leave benefits, which includes vacation, holiday, sick, and personal leave, was $2.83 per hour worked and accounted for 7.4 percent of total compensation costs.

Hourly wages and salaries averaged $22.48 in the West and accounted for 70.1 percent of all compensation costs. Total benefits averaged $9.60, or 29.9 percent of total compensation costs. Legally required benefits averaged $2.70 per hour worked and accounted for 8.4 percent of total compensation costs in the West. Insurance benefits averaged $2.53 per hour and represented 7.9 percent of all employer costs, while paid leave was $2.12, or 6.6 percent of total compensation costs.

The Midwest region recorded an hourly wage and salary average of $20.00 in December 2014, which represented 69.3 percent of all compensation costs. Total benefits averaged $8.85 and accounted for the remaining 30.7 percent of total compensation costs. The three highest categories for employer benefit costs included: insurance benefits ($2.58 per hour worked), legally required benefits ($2.34), and paid leave ($1.97). These categories represented 8.9 percent, 8.1 percent, and 6.8 percent, respectively, of total employer compensation costs in the Midwest.

In the South, wages and salaries averaged $20.42 per hour and comprised 70.9 percent of total employer compensation, while total benefits, at $8.40 per hour, accounted for the remaining 29.1 percent. Legally required benefits represented the largest benefit category, averaging $2.23 per hour worked, or 7.7 percent of total compensation costs. Insurance benefits, at $2.18 per hour, or 7.6 percent of total compensation costs, represented the second largest benefit category in the South. Paid leave, the third largest benefit category, averaged $1.95 per hour and represented 6.8 percent of all costs.

Overall, compensation costs among private industry employers in the United States averaged $31.32 per hour worked in December 2014. Wages and salaries, at $21.72 per hour, accounted for 69.4 percent of these costs, while benefits, at $9.60, made up the remaining 30.6 percent.

The March 2015 national release on Employer Costs for Employee Compensation is scheduled to be released on June 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell reported surprisingly strong housing and mortgage finance numbers in the Norfolk County real estate market for February 2015.

“Despite historic levels of snowfall experienced in Norfolk County during the month of February, real estate sales and the average sale price of properties heated up and showed marked improvement from February 2014 numbers. Furthermore, the mortgage market also showed significant gains in February as an improving economy, coupled with continued low interest rates. resulted in increased mortgage refinance activity,” noted Register O’Donnell.

While the total number of deeds recorded in February 2015 increased by only 1%, compared to February 2014 numbers, the total volume of commercial and residential real estate sales rose by 27%, with overall sales of $334 million. Average sale price of commercial and residential property for the month of February 2015 also was up 25% to $740,024, compared to the same time last year.

Register O’Donnell stated, “What these figures clearly show is that despite the brutal winter, there is a healthy pool of home buyers out there wanting to purchase property. The numbers also show that prospective home buyers are competing amongst themselves for a limited number of properties. This seller’s market is clearly driving up real estate prices. Usually, without a significant spike in inventory, real estate prices will rise.”

The total number of mortgages recorded in February 2015 rose 53% to 1,960 from 1,280 in February 2014. Total mortgage indebtedness for the same contrasting period of time actually fell by 73%. This was attributed to a $2.5 billion mortgage that was recorded against multiple properties in Massachusetts, including a Braintree property, in February 2014.

Homestead recordings, which provide limited protection against the forced sale of an individual’s primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000, fell 3% from February 2015 to February 2014. A total of 557 Homesteads were recorded versus 575 during this comparative time period. Information regarding the Homestead Act can be found on the Registry’s website at www.norfolkdeeds.org.

There was also good news on the foreclosure front. The total number of foreclosure deeds recorded fell 14% in February 2015 as a total of 25 foreclosure deeds were recorded compared to 29 in the previous February of 2014. The Register stated. “While one foreclosure deed is one to many, I am encouraged by its downward trend. Anyone who has received a Notice of Foreclosure from a lender is encouraged to contact our partners Quincy Community Action Programs at (617) 479-8181 ext. 376 or Neighbor Works Southern Mass at 508-587-095 ext.46. Both agencies can provide guidance and assistance to homeowners.

“While the inclement weather experienced in February had a disruptive impact on commerce, the Norfolk County real estate market appears to have weathered the storm.”

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com @NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Department via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org.

In an effort to become or remain competitive on the field of play, too many schools have lost sight of their primary mission – education. The tail – athletics – too often wags the dog – academics. And that reversal of order is oftentimes endorsed by campus presidents. Until that mindset changes, the NCAA is virtually impotent in stemming the tide of violations that threatens to make a mockery of academia. – by Jordan Kobritz

Readers of this space know that yours truly will never be elected president of the NCAA fan club. I have taken the NCAA to task on a number of occasions and anyone with a passing familiarity with how the governing body operates knows there is no shortage of things to criticize.

I have railed against complex and inconsistent rules, exemplified by the incomprehensible distinction between a plain bagel and one smeared with cream cheese. Not too long ago providing the former to a student-athlete was considered acceptable but the latter was considered a violation of the Bylaw that prohibits additional benefits to student-athletes. Mercifully, that mind boggling and idiotic distinction has been eliminated. Another frequent complaint is that the NCAA has repeatedly chosen to maximize revenue in lieu of protecting the welfare of student-athletes. And don’t even get me started on such topics as a lack of transparency and due process.

But in fairness to the NCAA, it is a voluntary membership organization consisting of approximately 1,100 colleges and universities in three divisions. The NCAA is run by its members. University presidents are ultimately responsible for the direction and operation of their oversight organization, which includes 500 employees at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. If the presidents aren’t happy with the direction of the NCAA, they have the ability to make changes. But possessing that ability is one thing; having the will to exercise it is quite another. Presidents have shown that they prefer less oversight – especially when it comes to their own institutions – rather than more.

Recent examples include the violations at Syracuse which was cited for “a lack of institutional control” over the athletic department and the revelations at the University of Tennessee (UT) that the athletic department has interfered with the discipline of student-athletes. At Syracuse, the NCAA accused men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim of failing “in his responsibility to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” Translated, that means he did not run a “clean” program that complied with NCAA rules and regulations. It’s not the first time during Boeheim’s 40-year run as head coach at Syracuse that sanctions have been imposed on the University. An investigation in the 1990’s led to probation and other sanctions, including a ban on post season play in 1993 after a finding that the school engaged in recruiting violations.

But with the support of his higher ups, the athletic director and chancellor, Boeheim kept right on coaching, and violating NCAA rules and regulations. Even after the latest sanctions, there’s no indication that Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud has any intention of terminating Boeheim. In fact, Syverud was defiant in his defense of Boeheim following the NCAA’s report. And even if Syracuse jettisoned Boeheim, his successor is likely to continue with the illegal practices that have been imbedded for decades. It’s not only the culture at Syracuse, but many, if not most, other schools that engage in big time athletics.

The situations at Syracuse, UT and so many other institutions could not exist if presidents did not support and defend their rogue athletic departments and the employees who have violated NCAA and University rules. Where is the incentive to change if your boss countenances your unlawful actions?

The University of North Carolina, which is currently under investigation by the NCAA, may end up being the granddaddy of all academic scandals. Over the course of almost two decades thousands of athletes were given credit for courses they did not complete while professors were paid for classes they did not teach. Students didn’t attend class and never met with a professor. The charade was designed for one purpose: To keep athletes eligible to play sports. Coaches, administrators and academics abdicated their responsibility to provide student-athletes with an education and to prepare them for life after sports. The scandal has brought shame and embarrassment to an institution with a reputation for both quality academics and athletics.